Kerala to raise vegetable production through Harithasree

Thiruvanthapuram, Feb 13(UNI) The Kerala Government will implement a project ''Harithasree'' aimed at increasing the cultivation of vegetables by 15 tonnes in the state, Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran said today.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the primary object of taking up such a project, to be implemented jointly by Agriculture Department, Horticrop, Horti Mission Vegetables and Fruit Promotion Council and Agriculture University, was to find a permanent solution to the scarcity of vegetables and to check the upward trend in its prices in the state. The official launch of Harithasree would be held on April 14.

Mr Ratnakaran said the government was planning to declare Idukki, Wayanad and Palakkad districts as ''vegetables districts.'' As a pilot project its functioning would start in Idukki district with the setting up of 5,000 societies by including one lakh peasants as its members in the agriculture production activities.

Besides this, in traditional agriculture sector 2,000 ''Harithasree'' societies would be formed under the guidance of Agriculture Department for promoting local vegetables and a financial assistance of Rs 15,000 would be provided as production incentive, he said adding the government would also utilise the farms under the Agriculture Department and lands possessed by Oil Farm, Plantation Corporation and Farming Corporation.

The Minister informed that the government was planning to open a network of 300 vegetables outlets throughout the state and three vegetables shops of international standard in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode by the Horticorp.

The Horticrop would distribute vegetables through its outlets with 10 per cent discount and sell vegetable kits through selected shops at Rs nine, aimed at middle class income groups.

UNI